How to grow potted apricot trees? Frequent pruning increases the sprouting rate and promotes flowering

AbstractFor a potted apricot tree, you must first choose a suitable variety, then carry out seedling cultivation and potting and planting. When the apricot tree has grown for a certain period of time, shaping and pruning must be done in time. Next, the fertilizer in the potting soil must be well managed, and fertilizer should be added at the right time according to the situation. Later, attention must also be paid to the prevention and control of pests and diseases, so that the apricot tree can grow healthily.

Apricot trees bear fruit early, have a relatively long lifespan, and are also highly adaptable, making them quite suitable for potting. Their apricots are brightly colored, attractive in appearance, and fragrant. The pots can be placed in courtyards, on balconies, and other places. Potted apricot trees are loved by many people.

1. Variety selection

For potted apricot trees, you should choose varieties with large fruit, brighter color, a longer ornamental period, later flowering, and easy avoidance of late frost damage. Varieties meeting these criteria include Lanzhou Dajie Apricot, Baimei Apricot, Chuanzhihong, Hebei Daxiangbai Apricot, and Shuijing Apricot, among others. These are all good choices for potted apricot trees.

2. Seedling cultivation

Apricot seedlings are generally cultivated through grafting. You can directly buy apricot seedlings at a flower market, or before the soil freezes in autumn, sow the rootstock seeds directly in the nursery to a depth of about 7 cm. After sowing, cover well with soil and water. In the second spring, the emergence rate can generally reach about 90%. By the third year, excellent varieties can be selected for branch grafting, with a very high survival rate. You can also use spring sowing and summer-autumn budding methods for propagation.

3. Potting and planting

Before the apricot tree sprouts, choose seedlings with well-developed roots and robust growth for planting. A flowerpot with a diameter of about 20-30 cm is suitable. Place a few pieces of broken tile over the drainage hole at the bottom (to prevent root rot), put 2 cm of coarse sand at the bottom of the pot, and then add an appropriate amount of nutrient soil. The nutrient soil should be made by mixing thoroughly decomposed cow manure, sand, and a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer. The planting depth should be just enough to cover the seedling's original soil surface. The graft union must not be covered with soil. Fill the nutrient soil to about 80% of the pot. After potting, water thoroughly once. If a large depression appears, promptly fill it with nutrient soil and water it to settle.

4. Shaping and pruning

For pruning young apricot trees in winter, note: only cut back, do not thin out; do not retract or thin and retract only a little, and gradually shift mainly to retraction. For situations where apricot branches extend too long and branches are too tall, retract to plump flower buds and short branches with a wider angle, so as to achieve the purpose of controlling the crown. Thin out upright branches with few flower buds, as well as overlapping and crossing branches. For apricot branches that bear too much fruit or trees that are relatively old, heavily cut back the weaker branches in the middle and lower part of the crown, and remove as much as possible the medium and short branches with average vigor and plump flower buds, to facilitate later fruiting of the apricot tree. Summer pruning is mainly done before the apricot tree sprouts, using branch bending to increase the angle of the branches, raise the sprouting rate of the branches, and promote the opening of apricot flowers.

5. Fertilizer and water management

Apricot trees generally bloom around March each year. Their flowering period has high temperature requirements. On sunny days, water thoroughly basically every day to keep the soil in the pot moist, while in early spring and autumn, water about once every 3 days according to the condition of the pot.

In winter, proceed according to the situation, generally checking once every half month to prevent the soil from becoming too dry. Fertilization is mainly organic fertilizer, following the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, to prevent excessive fertilizer from burning the roots. From flowering to fruit harvest, apply organic fertilizer generally about once every 10 days, mainly to promote fruit development and growth.

6. Protecting flowers and fruit

Apricot trees bloom relatively early, so they are prone to frost, which affects fruit set. However, we can take the following measures to prevent it.

1. You can choose apricot varieties that bloom later, such as Shaanxi Yongquan Meixing and Shanxi Yongji Baimei Apricot. These apricot varieties bloom later and can avoid frost.

2. For some overwintering cold-protected potted apricots grown on land, before sprouting, the potting soil needs to be watered and covered well with grass, and the crown should be sprayed with limewater. This can delay the flowering period by about 5-7 days.

3. During the bud swelling stage of the apricot tree, spraying 0.1% maleic hydrazide can delay flowering by about 4-7 days.

4. Pay attention to the local weather forecast. Before the late frost arrives, use grass to smoke the potted orchard, which can reduce the impact of frost.

5. Although apricot trees can set fruit by self-pollination, in order to increase the fruit-setting rate of apricot trees, it is best to carry out artificial supplementary pollination, and spray fertilizers such as urea or boron during the flowering period.

7. Pest and disease control

Common pests and diseases of potted apricot trees include mulberry scale, peach fruit borer, apricot seed wasp, longhorn beetle, peach aphid, and apricot disease, among others. Control methods: prune branches and leaves regularly, promptly cut off branches found to have pests or diseases, and during periods of high pest incidence, use dichlorvos spray for control.

8. Repotting

Potted apricot trees generally need repotting about once every 3 years. It is best to do it during the dormant period by pulling the tree out of the pot, first removing the root pad, then removing about 1/4 of the soil around the roots, and properly pruning the bottom branches, then replanting. If repotting during the growing season, be sure not to injure too many roots, and after repotting provide an appropriate amount of shade and spraying water to protect the leaves.

9. Overwintering

If the region is too cold, place the potted apricot tree indoors to overwinter. When winter temperatures are moderate, it can be moved outside, with some grass covering the pot. When a cold wave arrives, check whether the potting soil is dry. If it is too dry, water it in time, so that the apricot tree can overwinter safely.